An interview with T. Cook, author of works on the use of research and evaluation theory and design, touches on such topics as practical evaluation, planning programs with evaluation or research design, and evaluation of programs for gifted students. (CL)

The article suggests ways to make use of regression discontinuity to plan, implement, and evaluate gifted programs. It outlines how research data can illuminate rather than obscure program decisions. Making efficient use of multiple criteria identification data is discussed along with making program effectiveness decisions without using a control…

A rationale for using better research designs in evaluating gifted programs is considered. Some definitions of research designs are presented along with evaluation results of a summer program at Northwestern University. The role of research design in evaluating course products, and attitudes is examined via a case study. (Author/CL)

Citations (n=675) regarding classroom practices in journals dedicated to gifted education from 1989 to 1996 were reviewed. Only five percent of the identified references addressed issues of demonstrated effectiveness with acceptable research standards. Most of these focused on specific instructional strategies and program models that were found to…

This article examines the dearth of published research on effective practices for teaching gifted students in general education settings. Suggestions for defining the effects that should be measured are provided, as well as guidelines for technically adequate measures and procedures for gathering and analyzing the necessary data. (Author/PB)

Analysis of studies on predictors of people's attitudes toward gifted education reveals that about 50 variables have been examined as potential sources of differences, but not a single variable emerges as a substantial explanatory factor. Major methodological problems in the studies are identified and proposals for future research are offered.…

The article presents and illustrates use of an evaluation model for assessing programs for the gifted where tight experimental control is not possible. The model consists of four components: ex post factor designs including intact groups; comparative evaluation; strength of treatment; and multiple outcome assessment from flexible data sources. (DB)

This review offers a general theory of utilization of educational evaluation and considers factors affecting utilization, including evaluation context factors and evaluator-controlled factors. Special challenges in evaluating programs for gifted students and design shortcomings common in evaluation of such programs are identified. Specific…

Review of solicited gifted program evaluation reports and the literature found a relative paucity of such reports as well as a lack of methodological sophistication, reporting, and utility concerns. Promising practices were seen in some evaluations conducted for program improvement, which employed multiple methodologies, sources, analysis…

A review of 50 articles on giftedness analyzed the degree to which four world views (contextualism, organicism, formism, and mechanism) shape the thinking of scholars in the field. Results indicate philosophical biases toward contextualism and organicism in terms of subject-matter emphasis and a bias toward mechanism in the preferred research…